You’ve gathered your items for sale, inspected them, prepped them, and secured your storage area. Now it’s time to list your items for sale on Poshmark and get ready for your first sale.
Item titles
This part is very important. Your item’s title and description is how shoppers on and off Poshmark will find your item. You want to ensure that your items show up in the results when shoppers search for items similar to yours. So let’s go through how to set up your items to be found.
Item titles should include the brand name, style name (if you can find it), color, material, outstanding features, size, item condition. Never post your item with a title like, “Nice blue jeans”. Your item will be at the bottom of the search results, and this will immediately mark you as an inexperienced seller – a target for scammers and cheapskates.
Brand. This should come first, as shoppers, especially those shopping marketplaces like Poshmark, will nearly always include a brand name in their search. They will search with keywords like, “Free People brown leather sandals” or “Michael Kors black leather crossbody bag”.
Style name. You may find this on the tag if the item is new. Or if it’s shoes or a handbag, it may be printed on the item itself. Shoppers on marketplaces are often searching for a specific item, so including this information, if you have it, this can help your item rise to the top of the search results.
Color and material. Shoppers will also often include color and the material in the searches. Shoppers looking for “black leather shoes”, will find your item easier if you ensure these feature points are included in every listing.
Item condition. Shoppers like to know at a glance the condition of your item. If your item is new with the tags attached (NWT) or new and unworn without the tags attached (NWOT), be sure to add those abbreviations to the title as well.
Size. This is another data point that’s important to include in every item’s title, as it’s important to shoppers.
Outstanding features. Adding these details can boost your chances of your item rising towards the top of shoppers’ search results. Outstanding features like sleeve length, stretch, vintage, limited edition, ruffled, sequined, etc. Example: Michael Kors Marissa Black Pebbled Leather Knee High Zippered Platform Boots Size 9 NWT.
Example:
For the top above, the title should be listed as: Puma Classic Crew White Fleece Pullover Long Sleeve Sweatshirt Size XL NWT.
You should use the same title format consistently with all your items. And be sure to avoid typos, misspellings and emojis and such.
Item descriptions
Here is your opportunity to add more keywords to help shoppers find your item. It is also an opportunity to refund proof your item and defend against any “item not as described” claims as much as possible.
Disclose and describe any damage. List any damage or flaws that you photographed in your description. Be as clear and detailed as possible. Example: Small pull on the front of the sweater near the right shoulder area, as shown in picture #3.
Measurements. This is a controversial topic. Some sellers swear measurements on all items are essential. Some swear by including none, ever. I fall in the middle. I do not recommend including measurements on all items. If you mis-measure an item, even by a bit, this can allow a buyer to return your item with a “item not as described claim”.
For new, unworn clothing and shoes items, I would not supply measurements. For worn and washed clothing items, I will supply basic measurements because the item may have shrunk or stretched from its original new size. For handbags and wallets, I will supply basic measurements on new and used items, because a “large handbag” is a very subjective thing.
The basic measurements:
Pants: Waist, Inseam
Tops/Jackets: Armpit to armpit, length from shoulder to hem
Dresses: Armpit to armpit, length from shoulder to hem, waist
Handbags/Wallets: Length, width
Some will claim not including measurements will hurt your sales. But I have not found this to be true. I have sold successfully on multiple marketplaces and I rarely include measurements. This strategy seems to discourage picky buyers that buy your item “hoping” it will fit, knowing it likely won’t, and then try to force a return. Instead, I get more experienced online clothing shoppers that have a good sense of what will fit and will either buy or pass on my item based on the description and size alone. Plus, adding measurements to every item takes a significant amount of time, and time is money. Your time could be better spent listing more items.
Item Tags
Poshmark allows you to add up to three “tags” to your item. Use all your tag opportunities. Select tags that have a close relationship to your item to help shoppers find it. Example: For the top above, I would select the “casual”, “athleisure”, “streetwear” tags.
Category and Item Details
This part is simple. Poshmark has set categories for all the items allowed on their platform. Simply select the most appropriate category, you may only pick one. If your item is unisex, I would suggest listing it in the women’s category because women far outnumber men shopping on the platform.
Here you will also select the item’s color from Poshmark’s preset list. As well as the size and Brand from Poshmark’s dropdown list. If the item’s Brand is not listed, you may enter it. However, be careful to spell the brand name accurately so it will be easy to find if a shopper searches for it.
Lastly, be sure to mark if the item is NWT (new with tags) or not. You should only mark an item NWT if it is actually brand new, unworn, unwashed with the tags attached. Basically, that ugly itchy sweater, two sizes too small that your grandma bought you for Christmas, that’s still in the gift bag. If it does not meet these conditions, you may invite a return for “item not as described”.
Pricing
Poshmark asks for the original price of your item so it can show a percentage markdown. For new items with tags, simply post the tag price. For used items, you can post what you think the original price was, or you can enter $0.
The list price is the price you will offer to buyers. On Poshmark, buyers are offered and encouraged to haggle down the list price via the “offer button”.
Typically, new with tags items will sell for more than used items. There are exceptions, of course, used popular items that are rare in either color, size or style, or luxury items will go for more than new items.
Search for similar items on Poshmark and check the pricing. Consider:
Is the seller a new seller with a small number of items like you? Or are they an experienced seller with hundreds of items for sale? Buyers may be less willing to pay top price from a new seller, plus as a new seller, you want to price your first items to sell fast.
For example, if you have a new with tags Michael Kors scarf, and large sellers are pricing similar items for $69, and small sellers are pricing theirs at $39. Slip just under the bottom and price yours at $35.
Photos
Poshmark allows you to add over 12 pics for each item. Add as many photos of your item as possible. Select for the “cover photo” the front view of your item. And organize the rest in logical order: back, sides, bottom, and any flaw photos last.
Now you’re ready to list your item. Tap “Next” and then “List” on the app and your item is immediately available for sale. In the next article, we’ll discuss how to maximize your Poshmark exposure for quicker sales.
